Where have you been Mr. Smith?

Candidate for Carefree town council David Burnell Smith has been highly critical of the Ed Lewis Easy Street project being built in the town core.Filled with self‑righteous indignation, Smith has declared, “This project violated the original intent of the town.”

Of course this is not true as the town founders in fact supported mixed‑use projects in the town core and we actually had some in our early years. Smith’s fulminating about the project and the lack of citizen input is also not true. There were several meetings over many months concerning the text amendment to the zoning ordinances which outlined conditions for a mixed‑use development adjacent to Easy Street, and there were additional meetings on specific project design.

But more important, if this issue was so important to you, the question that must be raised is “Where have you been Mr. Smith?”

You were not at any of the planning and zoning meetings where the text amendment was discussed or the town council meeting where the text amendment was unanimously approved. Nor were you at the citizen forums sponsored by Butte Properties or the citizen participation meeting required by town ordinances. You were also not present at the P&Z development review board or at the town council meeting where the conditional use permit was approved for the project.

While there is an argument both pro and con for this project, frankly, your sudden concern is disingenuous.

In your campaign you have worked hard to portray yourself as a 25‑year active member of the community and engaged on all the issues, but specifically, “Where have you been?”

Wayne Fulcher
Carefree Town Council